New Videos Surface Showing Alex Pretti's Confrontation with ICE Agents Before Fatal Shooting
Just 11 days before he was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers, Alex Pretti was captured on video having a heated and unruly confrontation with federal immigration agents during a protest in Minneapolis. The now-viral footage provides a disturbing glimpse into the events leading up to his tragic death, raising significant questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Details of the January 13 Confrontation
In the video reportedly shot on January 13, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, can be seen engaging in a volatile altercation with federal officers. The footage shows Pretti shouting expletives at the agents and physically struggling with them. At one point, he kicks out the tail light of their vehicle, leading to a forceful response from an ICE agent who takes him to the ground.
According to reports, after being subdued, Pretti either breaks free or is released by the officers. He then scurries away, but as he turns his back to the camera, what appears to be a handgun is clearly visible in his waistband. However, it is crucial to note that the videos do not show Pretti reaching for the weapon at any point, and it remains unclear whether the federal agents were aware of its presence during the confrontation.
Verification and Sources of the Footage
The new videos from the week before the shooting emerged from two independent sources. One was published by the Minnesota Star Tribune and later obtained by The Associated Press, filmed by witness Max Shapiro. The second video was captured by a crew for The News Movement, an online media outlet. The authenticity of the footage has been further verified by BBC, which used facial recognition technology to confirm Pretti's identity with a 97% degree of accuracy.
A person with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed to AP that the man in the videos is indeed Alex Pretti and that he had informed his family about the confrontation shortly after it occurred.
What the Viral Videos Specifically Show
The footage provides a detailed account of the altercation. It shows Alex Pretti yelling at federal vehicles, and at one point, he appears to spit and shout "trash" toward the driver's side of a car with flashing red and blue lights. As the vehicle begins to pull away slowly, Pretti kicks at the taillight, delivering a second kick that shatters the red plastic and leaves the light dangling.
In response, the rear door of the SUV swings open, and an immigration officer wearing a gas mask and helmet exits, approaching Pretti. The officer grabs Pretti's shirt at his chest, pulling him back toward the vehicle as Pretti's arms flail. The officer then pulls Pretti onto the street and down onto his knees, falling over him during the scuffle.
Other masked and helmeted officers quickly surround them, attempting to subdue Pretti while others stand guard between the altercation and a screaming crowd. The situation escalates as officers set off tear gas canisters before withdrawing from the scene.
After stumbling away, Pretti is approached by a man filming who asks if he is okay. Pretti affirms that he is, then turns to others involved in the melee and asks, "Are we all OK? Are we all safe?"
The Fatal Shooting and Official Responses
Alex Pretti was shot dead last weekend on a sidewalk next to the street where he was filming immigration officers. Bystander video from the shooting shows one officer pushing him to the ground, with a half-dozen officers attempting to subdue him. One officer spots Pretti's weapon—which he was licensed to carry—and shouts, "He's got a gun." Two officers then open fire, killing Pretti.
Officials from the Donald Trump administration quickly reacted to the incident, claiming that Pretti had approached officers with a gun and attacked them. However, according to the AP report, multiple videos of the altercation and shooting show that Pretti never brandished his gun and did not assault any officer. He was holding his phone when he was shot in the back while on the ground.
A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations stated that the department "is reviewing" the new videos and the incident. It remains unknown whether any of the officers involved in the January 13 confrontation were also present at the time of Pretti's fatal shooting.
